Full-figure model Emme (center) wears a sportwear outfit from the True Beauty(TM) by Emme(R) apparel line manufactured by the St. Louis-based Kellwood Company. The line is available at JCPenny. Photo courtesy of JCPenny
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Kellwood Company Launches True Beauty by Emme Apparel Line
ST. LOUIS (SLFP.com) February 11, 2003 - Fashion model Emme and Kellwood Company, a leading marketer of apparel, will introduce the True Beauty(TM) by Emme(R) apparel line in spring 2003. JCPenney will carry the line in approximately 500 stores. The partnership was announced today by Emme; Stephen L. Ruzow, president of Kellwood Womenswear; and Vanessa Castagna, JCPenney chairman and CEO of JCPenney Stores, Catalog and Internet.
Emme, as an entrepreneur, is the internationally renowned host of E! Entertainment Television's Fashion Emergency. She is also a best selling author and leading full-figured model. True Beauty by Emme marks Kellwood's second on-going apparel venture with Emme, with the first being The EMME(R) Collection, which debuted in stores in April 2000.
"The True Beauty by Emme line is a 'dressed up' version of everyday basics which will suit a woman's lifestyle fashion needs," stated Emme.
The collection will offer a variety of colors and novelty fabrics and a versatile assortment of flattering silhouettes. True Beauty by Emme is targeted to all women who are among the 50 percent of American women who are a size 14 and above, who believe in style, fashion, and self expression.
"Emme has always emphasized that a woman's "true beauty" is defined by both inner and outer beauty, and that women, regardless of shape or size, must realize that they are just as beautiful on the inside as out," stated Vanessa Castagna, JCPenney chairman and CEO of JCPenney Stores, Catalog and Internet. "Capturing outer beauty is related to what we wear and how we dress, and when we look good, we feel good. This is the message True Beauty by Emme conveys. This collection is built entirely for plus-size women and focused on making them look and feel fashionable and fabulous. Women should look to True Beauty by Emme to help them define and illustrate their own sense of style and true beauty."
"Emme is an inspiration to millions. Her beauty and sense of style were a natural match for us," stated Stephen L. Ruzow, president of Kellwood Womenswear. "We feel that the partnership between True Beauty by Emme and JCPenney is a sensible one. Emme has long been a vocal advocate for the importance of a woman's self esteem as it relates to her body image. JCPenney's slogan, 'It's All Inside' seems to sum up the fact that a woman can feel good about herself based on her inner beauty, reinforcing Emme's standpoint."
Specifically designed for plus-size women, True Beauty by Emme is, with an average retail price of $45, an affordable and versatile line designed to meet the needs of a woman's busy lifestyle. The collection includes women's sportswear, dresses and intimate apparel, and will be sold exclusively at JCPenney the first year.
At opening day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, supermodel Angela Lindvall cuts the ribbon to unveil the Red Dress Collection and launch the red dress as the symbol for women and heart disease. The Collection includes 19 dresses contributed by America's hottest fashion designers, including (pictured l-r) Diane von Furstenburg, Vera Wang, and Nicole Miller and is part of a national campaign sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (PRNewsFoto)
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Red Dress Project to Fight Heart Disease
NEW YORK (PRNewswire) February 9, 2003 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the launch of a new national partnership with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and top fashion designers to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of American women.
The centerpiece of The Heart Truth campaign is the "Red Dress Project," which was launched in New York City by HHS' National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); top fashion designers; Mercedes-Benz USA; and 7th on Sixth, the producers of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
"Many people still believe that cardiovascular disease is a man's disease, when in reality, it has claimed the lives of more females than males since 1984, killing more than half a million women a year," Secretary Thompson said. "However, many risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and obesity are controllable. That means each of us can take steps to help reduce our risks and prevent this deadly disease."
The Red Dress Project includes a collection of 19 red dresses from America's most prestigious designers. The dresses symbolize the fact that heart disease is a woman's health issue as well as a man's. The dresses are being exhibited, along with information about women and heart disease, in Bryant Park, Feb. 7-14, when American designers unveil their new designs for the fall.
The Red Dress Project exhibit will also feature a photograph by David LaChapelle of model Angela Lindvall in a dress designed by Donna Karan. Also debuting during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is a specially designed red dress pin, created by leading accessory designer Angela Cummings and an exclusive Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week magma red C320 Sports Coupe.
The 19 designers participating in The Red Dress Project are: Bill Blass, Anne Klein, Badgley Mischka, Chaiken (Jeff Mahshie), Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Vivienne Tam, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Carmen Marc Valvo, Tommy Hilfiger, Luca Luca, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Catherine Malandrino, Donna Karan and Nicole Miller.
"Only about one-third of American women know that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women," said NHLBI Director Claude Lenfant, M.D. "It is vitally important for women to take heart disease seriously, know their risk, and act to protect their heart health. This important partnership with Mercedes-Benz USA and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week allows us to reach millions of women with information that can help them live longer, healthier lives."
In focus group testing, the Red Dress was found to be a memorable icon that resonated with women across the country. And, the testing also revealed that the Red Dress and the accompanying "heart disease doesn't care what you wear" message captures women's attention and makes women think about their own personal risk of heart disease.
The fashion industry's support provides a powerful platform for NHLBI to issue this heart health 'wake-up call' to millions of women. "This partnership with NHLBI is about helping women take action to take care of their heart health. If women aren't doing that, then it isn't going to matter what color their dress is," said Fern Mallis, executive director, 7th on Sixth. "We want all women to be taking care of what's on the inside -- their hearts -- so we can help them look their best on the outside," added Mallis.
Heart disease risk factors include those that are beyond women's control and those that can be changed. Those that can't be changed are a family history of early heart disease and age. The risk factors that can be controlled are smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes. While having even one risk factor is dangerous, having multiple risk factors is especially serious, because risk factors tend to "gang up" and worsen each other's effects.
"Cynthia" by Matthew Jordan Smith. (PRNewsFoto)
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'Love Now' Exhibit at Nordstrom to Showcase Work of Black Photographers
MONTVALE, N.J (PRNewswire) January 13, 2003 - In celebration of Black History Month, Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) will showcase the work of renowned and up and coming African-American photographers in a premiere exhibit called "Love Now".
The exhibit will feature ten photographers:
- Aida Muluneh; Washington DC
- Calvin French; New York, N.Y.
- Sinden Collier; Los Angeles, Calif.
- Kwaku Alston; Los Angeles, Calif.
- Matthew Jordan Smith; New York, N.Y.
- Pauline St. Denis; New York, N.Y.
- Janusz Kawa; New York, N.Y.
- Carl Posey; New York, N.Y.
- Sean Drakes; New York, N.Y.
- Griff Davis; Atlanta, Ga. (1923-1993)
The exhibit will be displayed in select Nordstrom stores and will feature works inspired by the photographers' interpretation of love in our times. The exhibit is a public tribute to the art and talent of black professional photographers and to honor the contributions that African-Americans have made to society as a whole. The exhibit will be displayed the entire month of February.
"We are excited and honored to feature the work of these talented photographers in our stores during Black History Month," said Delena Sunday, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Diversity Affairs. "The photographs are truly a celebration of life and the richness diversity brings to our communities."
About the Artists
Among the featured photographers are Aida Muluneh from Washington D.C., Matthew Jordan Smith from New York City, and the late Griff Davis from Atlanta. Aida Muluneh hopes that her work will serve as a catalyst to change perceptions about people of color around the world. A native of Ethiopia and a freelance photographer for the Washington Post, she began capturing still images in high school and graduated from the film department at Howard University. In May some of her work will be on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.
In addition to his work as a photographer, Matthew Jordan Smith will soon launch his career as a commercial film director, producing a 12-city Celebrity College Tour this fall. The tour will take some of today's hottest celebrities to colleges across the country to talk about how they made their dreams come true. A native of Columbia, S.C., he is also a teacher and active in enlightening students on the art of photography. Smith is also the author/creator of Sepia Dreams, A Celebration of African-American Achievement Through Words and Images, a collection of photographs and interviews with 50 African-American celebrities.
"Griff" Davis was born in 1923 on the campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. After serving in WWII he returned there to receive a B.A. After graduating in 1947 he worked as the first roving editor of Ebony Magazine. In 1948 he attended Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism as the only black student in his class and received his M.A. While covering the missionary movement in Liberia for Ebony Magazine, Griff became one of the pioneers of President Truman's Point 4 program. Among his many contributions, Griff donated 7,000 photographs and negatives documenting social and economic development in Liberia to Howard University, and 354 historic photographic exposures of Langston Hughes and others to Duke University. In 1985, Griff returned to Atlanta to retire, and died on July 22, 1993.
Exhibit Locations
The exhibit will be on display at Nordstrom stores in: Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Littleton, Colo.; San Francisco; San Diego; Costa Mesa, Calif.; Brea, Calif.; Redondo Beach, Calif.; Arlington, Va.; Chicago; Indianapolis; Dallas; Atlanta; Durham, N.C.; and Paramus, N.J.
In conjunction with the exhibit, three Nordstrom stores will also participate in events benefiting local African-American organizations. Nordstrom in downtown Seattle and Portland are participating sponsors for a Maya Angelou reading at local theatres.
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